Director of International Law & Movement Partnerships (Geneva (GVA), CH, 29857) presso ICRC | International Committee of the Red Cross

About the ICRC

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) operates globally to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and violence. We respond swiftly to emergencies while also promoting respect for international humanitarian law.

As an independent and neutral organization, our mandate is rooted in the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work in close collaboration with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to ensure a coordinated, effective, and timely humanitarian response.

In situations of conflict or internal violence, the ICRC directs and coordinates international humanitarian efforts to meet the needs of those affected.

Purpose of the Role

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is seeking an experienced leader to serve as its next Director of International Law and Movement Partnerships — a globally respected, strategic, and inclusive voice in international humanitarian law, Movement affairs, and humanitarian policy and practice.

As a member of the ICRC’s Directorate, you will play a pivotal role in defining and advancing the organization’s legal and policy vision. You will lead the ICRC’s engagement on international humanitarian law (IHL), drive reflections on principled humanitarian action and policy, and ensure that the organization’s positions remain grounded in its commitment to the principle of humanity and legal mandate and are adapted to today’s operational, geopolitical, and technological realities.

You will oversee the efforts of the Movement & Partnerships team, strengthening collaboration across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and ensuring cohesive, effective engagement with National Societies, the International Federation, States, multilateral institutions, and other key stakeholders.

In addition, you will guide the work of the ICRC Archives, safeguarding institutional memory while anchoring forward-looking policy development that reflects both humanitarian needs and legal imperatives, duly capturing and integrating diverse global perspectives.

As Director, you will shape the ICRC’s institutional voice on critical legal, policy, and Movement issues, and ensure the ICRC remains a trusted and authoritative actor in a rapidly evolving humanitarian landscape.

This is a rare and defining opportunity to influence the global debates on humanitarian action and system — shaping legal norms, deepening Movement partnerships, and reinforcing principled action through law, dialogue, and strategic cooperation.

Key Responsibilities (1/2)

Institutional Leadership

• Lead the Department of International Law and Movement Partnerships (LMP), setting strategic vision, ensuring high-quality delivery, and strengthening institutional coherence on legal, Movement partnership, and policy matters.
• Oversee and support strategic IHL efforts, coordinating internal and external efforts to reinforce legal norms, elevate IHL in multilateral agendas, and drive engagement with States, Movement partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of major legal and policy strategies across the institution.

Movement & Strategic Partnerships

• Oversee the Movement & Partnerships work, deepening cooperation with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the IFRC, and key strategic partners within and beyond the Movement.
• Shape new collaborative mindsets and approaches in partnerships with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to ensure reliability and predictability in the ICRC’s cooperation.
• Build a collaborative understanding of evolving global dynamics and perspectives of humanitarian action with Movement partners.

Thought leadership on IHL

• Safeguard and advance the ICRC’s global leadership in international humanitarian law through sound legal interpretation, thought leadership, and innovative legal development grounded in humanitarian principles and operational realities.

Key Responsibilities (2/2)

Humanitarian Policy & Positioning

• Shape and articulate forward-looking institutional policy positions that respond to evolving geopolitical dynamics, humanitarian challenges, and strategic opportunities for the ICRC.

Institutional Memory & Archives

• Champion the stewardship and modernization of the ICRC Archives, ensuring preservation of institutional memory while leveraging digital tools to enhance access, learning, and relevance.

Internal Collaboration

• Foster alignment and collaboration across legal, protection, operational, and diplomatic functions.
• Work closely with the Presidency and fellow Directorate members to drive and implement the ICRC’s strategic objectives.

Scope & Impact

• Global Reach: Oversees legal, policy, and partnership efforts across the ICRC’s global operations.
• Key Impact Areas: Legal and humanitarian policy leadership, Movement relations, humanitarian diplomacy, and multilateral and statutory processes.
• Leadership Scope: Leads the Legal, Movement & Partnerships, Policy, and Archives Divisions, ensuring their strategic alignment with the ICRC’s institutional objectives and humanitarian mission.
• Institutional Influence: Shapes the ICRC’s legal and policy positioning within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and beyond, including partnerships with States, international organizations, humanitarian actors, and other key stakeholders.

Key Relationships

• Internal:
  • Member of the Directorate.
  • Works closely with the President, Vice President, and Assembly as required.
  • Engages regularly with senior leadership at headquarters and with Heads of Delegations in the field.

• External:
  • Senior leaders of National Societies and the IFRC.
  • Members of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
  • State representatives, legal and diplomatic counterparts in Geneva, New York, and other multilateral fora.
  • A wide range of key actors in humanitarian diplomacy, international law, and strategic partnerships beyond the Movement.

Profile: Experience and Expertise

We are seeking a globally respected legal and policy leader with a strong multilateral presence, a deep commitment to principled humanitarian action, as well as to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's principles and mandate, and a proven ability to lead in complex, high-stakes environments. The successful candidate will bring strategic vision, legal authority, diverse relations in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the ability to influence international policy debates with integrity and clarity.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in international humanitarian law (IHL) through legal knowledge, academic leadership, publications, or field-based application.
• Prominent profile in international legal or diplomatic spheres, with influence in Geneva and New York-based multilateral settings and beyond.
• Extensive experience in strategic leadership at senior levels — in government, international organizations, Movement partners, or academic institutions — including leading diverse teams, managing complex agendas, and driving institutional transformation.
• Proven track record in engagement in multilateral or intergovernmental processes, such as UN bodies, legal commissions, treaty negotiations, or statutory meetings.
• Fluent and compelling communicator, with the ability to represent the ICRC across a wide range of audiences — from States and international organizations, Movement partners, to academia and the media.
• Collaborative and adaptive leadership style, with the ability to build trust and alignment across internal functions (legal, operational, protection, diplomacy) and across diverse external ecosystems.
• Strong political and institutional acumen, with the capacity to navigate sensitive and evolving humanitarian environments while upholding the ICRC’s neutral and principled positioning.
• Deep understanding of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including its governance, structure, and unique role in the humanitarian landscape.
• Academic qualifications in international law, preferably in IHL or public international law.
• Proven management skills and experience in leading diverse teams.
• Fluency in English and French is required; knowledge of additional languages (e.g., Arabic, Spanish) is an asset.

Position Details

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Type of position: Fixed-Term Assignment
• Length of assignment: 4 years
• Grade: E
• Activity rate: 100%
• Start date: June/July 2026
• Recruiter: Yana Makaveeva
• Application deadline: Friday, 26 October 2025

Our Values

At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values.

For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.